PGA Tour Stats Review: Entering the Humana Challenge

Cushing covers the PGA Tour for RotoWire, bringing a sabermetric approach to golf stats. Retired and living in the mountains of North Carolina, Cushing is in the running for the Most Interesting Man in Fantasy Sports. He's golfed the Doral Blue Monster, Harbour Town GC, Hilton Head and Augusta National, among many other tough courses. A classically trained pianist, Cushing still plays professionally. He roots for the University of Virginia because the Cavaliers may lose the game, but they ALWAYS win the party. He also made a fortune off the '72 Dolphins.

Each week we'll list the statistical breakdown of the upcoming PGA Tour event. Below are the results of last week's Sony Open and the top finishers from last year's Humana Challenge (Bob Hope Classic). For last year's full-season results, go here.

2012 Events

EVENT

WINNER

DRIVE

DRIVE

DRIVE

DRIVE

GIR

GIR

PUTTS

PUTTS

EAGLE/

BOGEY/

%of56

RNK

DIS

DIS RNK

%of72

RNK

Per GIR

RNK

RND

RNK

BIRDIE

DBL

TOC

Stricker -23

66.7

11

268.3

15

81.9

13

1.68

13

28.5

1

1/26

3/1

Sony Open

Wagner -13

41.1

56

276.4

68

70.8

10

1.67

6

28

16

2/17

8/0

AVERAGE

53.9

33.5

272.4

41.5

76.35

11.5

1.67

9.5

28.3

8.5

This Week's Event

Formerly the Bob Hope Classic, this event played five rounds, which are included in the stats below. This year's event is four rounds.

EVENT

WINNER

DRIVE

DRIVE

DRIVE

DRIVE

GIR

GIR

PUTTS

PUTTS

EAGLE/

BOGEY/

%of56

RNK

DIS

DIS RNK

%of72

RNK

Per GIR

RNK

RND

RNK

BIRDIE

DBL

'11 Bob Hope

Vegas P1 -27

75.0

13

308.7

3

76.7

19

1.65

22

27.4

16

1/34

9/0

B. Haas P2 -27

77.9

6

301.8

10

82.2

4

1.66

28

28.8

46

1/31

6/0

Woodland P2 -27

61.8

62

312.9

1

85.6

3

1.64

16

29.0

49

1/32

7/0

Palmer -26

63.2

60

303.2

9

75.6

22

1.62

10

26.6

7

0/34

4/2

Gay -24

83.8

1

261.0

73

70.0

58

1.56

3

25.8

2

0/32

8/0

Na -24

61.8

62

277.2

63

73.3

34

1.65

22

26.6

7

0/30

6/0

AVERAGE

70.6

34

294.1

26.5

77.23

23.33

1.63

16.8

27.4

21.2

Looking at the Humana Challenge

• The stats turn up some odd numbers such as fifth-place Na and winner Vegas had identical putts/GIR.

• The top three players did best in GIR while the bottom three did best in putts-per-round.

• Vegas closed with an eagle, two birdies and one bogey to earn the three-way tie.

• In 2011, Gay had the worst average in driving yards measured - be sure to check his putting stats.

• In addition to a name change and reducing the rounds from five to four, this year's event will be played on three courses instead of the former's four courses. It will retain the usual Pro-Am format, though.

• The field has 27 players who will play these courses for the first time, including Trevor Immelman, Greg Norman and Camilo Villegas.

• This event has provided the first PGA Tour victory for the last three winners: Pat Perez, Bill Haas and Jhonatton Vegas. So the field is wide open.

• Players need the usual good GIR and putting, plus very consistent scrambling. The winner probably will be in the range of 24-28 in birdies, so the par-4 and par-5 birdies or better are important.